Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-13
THE NoGALEs CASE.

1t is gratifying to learn that the State
Department has said TO our Minister at
the City of Mexico that it is the sense of
the American Government that sentence
Of death is too severe for the condemned
Nogales officers There has for some years
been great deal Of friction between
American and Mexican authorities upon
the border, and in seven cases out OF ten
the oifenses have had their origin in ag-
gressions by Mexicans.
In the Nogales case three Mexican army
officers, in uniform and with side arms,
crossed into American territory upon q
disgraceful errand, and being ordered back,
fortified themselves with several files of
men in arms and went again upon Ameri-
can soil in pursuit of their scheme, openly
and shamefully defying the American au-
thorities. The affair came very near cul-
minating in bloodshed. and only the cool
ness and forbearance of the American
Nogaleans prevented it. For this tres
pass the Mexican officers have been tried
by their superior officers in court-martial,
found guilty and sentenced to death.
That it is just finding and sentence
no one denies. But it is felt that it is a
case in which justice may well be tenn
pered with mercy. Their execution would
certainly act as deterrent and would
probably put stop to much of the border
trouble. But it does seem that lesser
punishment would constitute warning
that would scarcely be disregarded. If
these men who SO far forgot their duty as
soldiers, their honor as men and their
obligations to preserve the peace upon the
border, are imprisoned or drummed out of
the army, and their regalia of arms torn
from their breasts and cast into the dust
in the presence of their fellow officers and
men, the example needed would be made.
1t is TO the honor of our countrymen on
the border that they plead for the offend
ers and solicit the Mexican authorities to
spare their lives. That action in itself
goes long way toward cultivating the
good will and inspiring the respect of the
Mexicans. 1t is needed very much that
better border relations should be estab-
iished, for, as a rule, the Mexicans do not
regard Americans in friendly spirit, and
are disposed to treat them contemptuously
There seems TO be a good deal of red
tape delay in securing action on the part
of the United States Government. Be
cause it has not been officially notified of
the condemnation of the officers, the State
Department declines to address the Mexi-
can Government directly on the matter 1t
Is not customary for one power to notify
another when it condemns an offender for
infraction of local regulations, and if the
Federal Government waits for such notice
in this case, it will probably wait very
long time, and then be disappointed.
Then, again, the State Department APP
pears TO be unable to find precedent for
interposing merciful plea. Blu; if there
is no affirmative precedent, then it is time
TO make one. All precedents had be-
ginning, and one had as well be born of
action in this case as not. Because there
can be found no record OF an instance in
which Government interposed with a
mercifui plea to stay the sentence of death,
ought not to constitute reason for not
making first record of such interposition.
It cannot but be regretted, therefore, that
the Government did not extend its ex-
preston to our Minister to an instruction
TO communicate the American sentiment to
the Mexican State Department